UNIT 35 Session 3 Use Week of: Remember God s Truth BIBLE PASSAGE: Jude 3-4,17-25 MAIN POINT: Jude told believers to always remember God s truth. KEY PASSAGE: 2 Timothy 3:16 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How do we live while waiting for Jesus to come back? We follow Jesus and tell everyone about Him. 3 INTRODUCE THE STORY (15 20 MINUTES) PAGE 96 TEACH THE STORY (10 15 MINUTES) PAGE 98 EXPERIENCE THE STORY (20 25 MINUTES) PAGE 100 Leader BIBLE STUDY Jude, along with James, was a younger half-brother of Jesus. And like James, it wasn t until Jesus rose from the dead that Jude believed Jesus was the Son of God. Sometime between AD 65 and AD 80, Jude wrote a short letter to warn believers about false teachers. False teachers had secretly made their way into the church, and Jude urged his readers not to abandon their beliefs but to contend for the faith (Jude 3). Jude warned the early Christians that some people would try to divide them by sinning and by teaching things that weren t true. Jude wanted them to not only defend the true teachings but also to actively share the gospel. He told his 92 Preschool Leader Guide Unit 35 Session 3
friends to show mercy to those who doubt, to lead others to Jesus, and to hate sin. There are still false teachers today, and some of them still try to sneak into the church itself. God loves us, and He warns us through Scripture to be on guard. We can study His Word to know what is true, and we can rely on the Holy Spirit for wisdom and discernment. Such a strong warning about false teachers might be reason for panic among believers, but Jude ended his letter reminding them of God s promise. Ultimately, Jesus is the One who protects His people from sin. Throughout history, God has been working out His plan to bring a people to Himself. God will keep us, and He calls us to not only remember His truth but to encourage other believers to defend the faith. 3 Because of Jesus, we will be able to stand before God with great joy. In the words of Jude, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen (Jude 25). Additional resources for each session are available at gospelproject.com. For free training and session-by-session help, visit www.ministrygrid.com/web/thegospelproject. The God Who Gives Hope 93
The BIBLE STORY Bible Storytelling Tips Listen and speak: Instruct preschoolers to listen carefully for the name Jesus in the story. Every time they hear it, invite them to shout God s truth! Draw it out: Draw two groups of stick figures, with a slightly different stick figure standing between them. As you read the third paragraph of the story, erase or cross out the different stick figure, representing removing the one who is dividing them. This can also be done with felt board figures. Remember God s Truth Jude 1:3-4,17-25 After Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph had other children. One of them, Jude, wrote a letter to his fellow believers because he wanted them to tell others the good news about Jesus. Jude wrote, Dear friends, I have an important message for you. You should remember what is true about Jesus and be bold. Tell others what you believe. Jude said that some people do not follow Jesus. They make excuses for doing wrong things. They ignore Jesus, and God will punish them. Jude wrote, Friends, Jesus followers said what would happen. They said that people would make fun of believers and of Jesus. These people live however they want. They sin against God. They want to cause problems in the church. These people do not have the Holy Spirit. Friends, you should be strong as Jesus followers. Teach what is right. Let the Holy Spirit help you when you pray. Remember God s truth. He loves you, and Jesus will come again. You will live with God forever. Jude told the believers to show kindness to others and tell them about Jesus. Jude told the believers to hate sin. God gives us power to stay away from sin. Thank You, God, for Jesus our Savior and Lord and for helping us live how You taught us. All praise goes to God! 94 Preschool Leader Guide Unit 35 Session 3
Christ Connection: Jude warned the early Christians to watch out for people who sin and say wrong things about Jesus. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life the One who protects His people from sin. Because of Jesus, God will welcome us and give us joy forever. WANT TO DISCOVER GOD S WORD? GET MORE! Invite preschoolers to check out this week s devotionals to discover how God s Word can help them grow in the gospel. Order in bulk, subscribe quarterly, or purchase individually. For more information, check out www.lifeway.com/ devotionals. The God Who Gives Hope 95
Introduce THE STORY SESSION TITLE: Remember God s Truth BIBLE PASSAGE: Jude 3-4,17-25 MAIN POINT: Jude told believers to always remember God s truth. KEY PASSAGE: 2 Timothy 3:16 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How do we live while waiting for Jesus to come back? We follow Jesus and tell everyone about Him. I Have Hope song offering basket Allergy Alert download favorite toys related to the Bible story theme Discover God s Truth activity page, 1 per child pencils or crayons LOW PREP Tip: Be sensitive to children s feelings when choosing dividing characteristics. Welcome time Play the unit theme song in the background as you greet preschoolers and follow your church s security procedures. Set an offering basket near the door to collect at an appropriate time. Post an allergy alert, if necessary. Set out a few favorite theme-related toys, such as puzzles and blocks. Activity page Help preschoolers connect the dots to complete the picture of the Bible. SAY What did you discover in your picture? A Bible! In our story today, Jesus half-brother Jude tells believers to remember God s truth. The Bible is where we find God s truth! Divide the class Instruct all the preschoolers to stand in the middle of the room, then invite children individually to move to one or the other side of the room based on a secret characteristic such as gender, hair color, clothing color, and so forth. Once you have separated the class, encourage preschoolers to guess what the children on one side of the room have in common versus the other side of the room. Regroup and 96 Preschool Leader Guide Unit 35 Session 3
play again as desired. SAY That was a fun game, but I like playing all together best. In our story today, some people tried to divide the church, but they weren t just playing a game. They were saying wrong things about Jesus. Play a matching game Before the session, print two copies of the Bible Story Matching Game printable on heavyweight paper. Arrange the pictures in a grid facedown for older preschoolers or faceup for younger preschoolers. Challenge children to take turns turning over pairs in search of a match while you review previous stories. SAY Great job using your memory! You remembered a lot from those Bible stories, and you had to remember where the matching cards were, too. In our story today, Jude tells believers to always remember God s truth. Transition to tell the story To gain the attention of all the preschoolers to move them to Bible study, show the countdown video, flip off the lights, or clap a simple rhythm for the children to copy. Lead preschoolers to recite the key passage with you as they move to tell the story. Bible Story Matching Game printables, 2 countdown video (optional) The God Who Gives Hope 97
Teach THE STORY SESSION TITLE: Remember God s Truth BIBLE PASSAGE: Jude 3-4,17-25 MAIN POINT: Jude told believers to always remember God s truth. KEY PASSAGE: 2 Timothy 3:16 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How do we live while waiting for Jesus to come back? We follow Jesus and tell everyone about Him. Introduce the Bible story Ask preschoolers or adult leaders to tell about a favorite teacher they have had. SAY God is so kind to give us good teachers. In today s Bible story, Jude wrote a letter to warn believers about false teachers. These false teachers were not good. They said things that were not true about Jesus. Let s hear what Jude had to say about them. Bible bookmark Remember God s Truth video (optional) Bible Story Picture Poster Main Point Poster Giant Timeline or Big Story Circle Watch or tell the Bible story Place a bookmark at Jude in your Bible. Invite a preschooler to open it. Reverently display the open Bible. SAY What book is this? The Bible! Whose words are in the Bible? God s! Is the whole Bible true? Yes! Today s story is from a letter that Jude wrote to other believers. Show the video or tell the Bible story using the provided storytelling tips. Use the bolded version of the Bible story for young preschoolers. Talk about the Bible story SAY Some people make fun of believers and of Jesus. Jude told believers to always remember God s truth. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life the One 98 Preschool Leader Guide Unit 35 Session 3
who protects His people from sin. Because of Jesus, God will welcome us and give us joy forever. Point to the Bible story picture on the giant timeline or big story circle as you ask the following review questions: 1. Who wrote the letter in today s story? (Jude) 2. Did Jude write his letter to people who did not believe in Jesus? (No, he wrote to believers.) 3. What did Jude tell the believers to remember? (what is true about Jesus) 4. Who protects us from sin? (God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit) Learn the big picture question SAY Jude warned the early Christians to watch out for people who sin and say wrong things about Jesus. Jude also told the believers to show kindness to others and tell them about Jesus. How do we live while waiting for Jesus to come back? We follow Jesus and tell everyone about Him. Practice the key passage Open your Bible to 2 Timothy 3:16. Read the key passage aloud several times. Sing together the key passage song, All Scripture. SAY The whole Bible comes from God. Jude told believers to always remember God s truth. Memorizing God s Word will help us know when people are saying wrong things about Jesus. God will protect us! Big Picture Question Poster Key Passage Poster All Scripture song Transition to experience the story The God Who Gives Hope 99
Experience THE STORY SESSION TITLE: Remember God s Truth BIBLE PASSAGE: Jude 3-4,17-25 MAIN POINT: Jude told believers to always remember God s truth. KEY PASSAGE: 2 Timothy 3:16 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How do we live while waiting for Jesus to come back? We follow Jesus and tell everyone about Him. LOW PREP LOW PREP Bibles Play Simon Says Explain that you will say an action. If you begin the action with Simon says preschoolers should do that action. If you do not say Simon says before saying the action, preschoolers should not do that action. Play several rounds. Then allow a preschooler to be Simon. SAY We did some pretty silly things while doing what Simon said! Some people might think you are silly for following Jesus. Jude warned the early Christians to watch out for people who sin and say wrong things about Jesus. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life the One who protects His people from sin. Because of Jesus, God will welcome us and give us joy forever. How do we live while waiting for Jesus to come back? We follow Jesus and tell everyone about Him. Search for truth Before the session, hide several Bibles around the room. Explain that you will quietly guide the children as they search for the Bibles, but other leaders will make a lot of noise or shout wrong instructions. Warn children to watch out for them but to listen to you carefully! 100 Preschool Leader Guide Unit 35 Session 3
SAY Some people do not follow Jesus, and they make fun of believers. Jude warned the early Christians to watch out for people who sin and say wrong things about Jesus. Jude told believers to always remember God s truth. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life the One who protects His people from sin. Jesus gives us His Spirit to help us discover truth! Tell half a story Read or recite familiar children s stories to the preschoolers, leaving out sections. When you finish one, ask children whether you have told the whole story. SAY Even though I didn t say anything wrong when telling you those stories, I didn t tell the whole truth, either. Some people make excuses for doing wrong things because they don t know the whole truth. They forget that Jesus is coming back and that He told us how to live! How do we live while waiting for Jesus to come back? We follow Jesus and tell everyone about Him. The Bible helps us know how to follow Jesus, and His Spirit helps us remember all of it! Hopscotch the key passage Before the session, use masking tape to create a hopscotch board on the floor with one space for each word or phrase of the key passage. Instruct children to line up and give the first child in line a beanbag. Allow the child to toss the beanbag onto the board and then hop to it. Invite him to recite one word or phrase of the key passage each time he hops, stopping when he reaches the beanbag. Give each child a turn, encouraging them to reach the end. Finish by LOW PREP Key Passage Poster (optional) beanbag masking tape The God Who Gives Hope 101
reciting the whole passage as a class. SAY Jude told believers to always remember God s truth. Practicing our key passage is a great way to remember God s truth! heavyweight paper strips marker crayons stickers decorative tape (optional) Make a bookmark Write the main point on strips of heavyweight paper for each child. Allow children to decorate their strips with crayons, stickers, and decorative tape. Encourage them to use their bookmarks in their Bibles at home. SAY Jude told believers to always remember God s truth. We read our Bibles so we can remember God s truth! You can use your bookmark in your Bible at home so you know where to start again when reading it with your family. I hope you will read the whole Bible over and over so you can remember it all! 102 Preschool Leader Guide Unit 35 Session 3
Snack Play the countdown video to signal the end of activities. Guide preschoolers to clean their areas. Take a restroom break and wash hands. Gather preschoolers for snack time. Thank God for the snack. Serve berries for snack. Talk about how berries are good for your brain, so eating them helps you remember things better! Jude told believers to always remember God s truth. Transition When a child finishes his snack, guide him to throw away any trash. He may select a book or puzzle to examine, play quietly with play dough or a favorite toy, or color the Bible story coloring page. Offer the journal page and invite preschoolers to draw a picture of the cross. Explain that we still have to watch out for people who say wrong things about Jesus. Jude told believers to always remember God s truth. The most important truth to remember is that Jesus loves us so much that he died on the cross for our sins, and rose again to give us power to stay away from sin. When you are confused or tempted, just look to the cross and remember God s truth! Pray for the children. SAY God, thank You so much for Jesus. Thank You for saving us and for giving us power to follow You. Help us to remember Your truth and tell others about You. Amen! If parents are picking up their children at this time, tell them something that their child enjoyed doing or did well during the session. Distribute the preschool big picture cards for families. countdown video (optional) Allergy Alert download snack food paper cups and napkins books puzzles play dough Journal Page printable, 1 per child Bible Story Coloring Page crayons Big Picture Cards for Families: Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers The God Who Gives Hope 103